Fitness Q&A: What is the Best Exercise for Weight Loss?

Q: What is the best type of exercise for weight loss?
A: Interval Training. You pick the type of cardio; jogging, dance aerobics, cycling, kickboxing, whatever. The TYPE of cardiovascular exercise is not as important as HOW you should perform the exercise.... in intervals. Interval training is when you perform a cardiovascular exercise at varying levels of intensity, alternating higher intensity bursts with periods of rest or lower intensity. Research shows that high-intensity interval training is more effective than moderate intensity workouts at increasing your body's ability to use oxygen for energy. The more oxygen your body can convert to energy, the stronger, faster, and more fit you become. And with the continued cardiovascular stress and intensity of interval training, your body burns more calories and sheds excess pounds at a much faster rate than with moderate intensity cardio exercise. So next time, bypass your 30-minute steady jog on the treadmill for a 15-minute, high-intensity, interval style routine and burn more calories in half the time! Win-Win!